PORT CLINTON - Along with the new year came changes in the administration of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff Steve Levorchick’s former chief deputy, Jeff Hickman, retired on Jan. 1. Hickman served as chief deputy during the first four years of Levorchick’s tenure as sheriff.

Levorchick looked from within to the fill the chief deputy vacancy, promoted Captain Brad York, a veteran of the department.

York is a Danbury native, where he grew up and went to school.

In the late 1980s, York attended the police academy. He began his law enforcement career in Erie County, where he worked part-time for about two years.

He then worked for the Danbury Township Police Department as a full-time officer for two years.

In March 1990, York was hired by the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office under former sheriff John Crosser and has been with the office ever since.

York began as a patrol deputy before joining the K-9 unit, where he worked for 10 years.

Following that, he was promoted to sergeant and worked as a midnight shift sergeant for about 15 years.

When Sheriff Steve Levorchick came into office, he promoted York to captain.

“I’m excited about it,” York said of the chief deputy position. “The sheriff and I think a lot alike, so it’s going to be an easy transition.”

Levorchick said he and York have been working together about eight or nine hours a day, and also have been training partners for years.

“When I first started here, (former) Chief Deputy Hickman and Sheriff Levorchick took me under their wing and brought me up through the ranks,” York said.

Levorchick said one of the most important factors in the promotion was York’s commitment to the people of Ottawa County and the community as a whole.

“For the position of chief deputy of any sheriff’s office, that balance between friendliness, compassion, caring and firmness have to be equal,” Levorchick said. “Brad has a great ability to know when any of those are needed in any situation.”

Levorchick described the role of the chief deputy as overseeing the entire sheriff’s office, including operations, corrections and communications.

“The chief deputy is just ensuring everything is being done right every day,” he said.

The chief deputy is also in charge of the office’s policies and procedures, including completing any necessary updates.

“It’s nice to know we think alike on most things and I think it makes it a lot easier to run the office that way,” York said. “It’s a team effort.”

With York’s promotion, there was also an opening created for captain of operations, which Levorchick filled by hiring Scott Frank, formerly captain of the Wood County Sheriff’s Office.

Levorchick said Frank, a fellow Ottawa County resident, was looking to come back and work closer to home.

Frank is great with people, Levorchick said, which makes him a perfect fit for the captain of operations position. He also described Frank as a computer guru, another benefit for the office.